Colorado University Athletics
Several Honored At 4th Annual CUSPY Awards
April 21, 2004 | General
BOULDER - Senior volleyball stalwart Monique Gerlach and NCAA cross country champion Dathan Ritzenhein were honored as the 2003-04 University of Colorado Athletes of the Year here Wednesday night at the fourth annual CUSPY Awards (CU Sports Performers of the Year).
Over 400 student-athletes, coaches and staff attended the year-end banquet at the Coors Events Center, organized by CU's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to honor athletic accomplishments.
Gerlach, an honorable mention All-American, was a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection in one of the nation's strongest volleyball conferences. But more importantly, as the senior leader on a youth-oriented team, she guided CU to a 21-10 record, a tie for third in the conference and a berth in the NCAA Championships. She led the Buffs in five different categories last fall, and finished in the top eight all-time at Colorado in the same in leading CU to three NCAA appearances in her four seasons.
Only a sophomore, Ritzenhein was undefeated through the cross country season, as he also captured three other prestigious meets in addition to his national title in winning the Pre-National Invitational, the Big 12 Conference championship and the NCAA Mountain Regional. He added the Big 12 Indoor titles in the 3,000- and 5,000-meter runs and earned All-America honors with a fourth place finish in the 5,000. He has continued his success into the spring outdoors, with the fastest collegiate time in the 3k to date.
Kane Webber captured the men's career athletic achievement award, as he the senior from Lismore, Australia, is in the process of rewriting the golf record book. In position to establish a new low for career stroke average (currently 72.90, over half a stroke better than the record), his 71.2 average this season is well ahead of one of the oldest records on the books: the 72.0 by Hale Irwin that he posted his junior year in 1965-66. Webber has won two of the last three meets CU has competed in and will lead CU next week the Buffs' bid for their first Big 12 title in the sport.
Tera Bjorklund, the second all-time leading scorer in Colorado women's basketball history, won the female career athletic achievement award. A two-time all-Big 12 Conference performer, she scored 1,858 points in her career and also ranked in the top five all-time in scoring average, field goals made, field goal percentage, free throws made and blocked shots. She led CU to a 92-35 record during her four letter-winning seasons, with the Buffs earning an invitation to the NCAA tournament all four years.
The Freshmen of the Year awards, in their second year of existence, were again claimed by performers in the same sport that won the inaugural ones last spring.
The woman's winner was soccer's Katie Griffin, who was selected the Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Year, as well as second-team all-Big 12 and third-team all-Central Region. She led the team in scoring with 23 points, which included a freshman record 10 goals. After just one season, she is already ranked in the top 10 in four major categories at Colorado.
The male frosh of the year was football's Brian Daniels, who earned freshman All-America honors after breaking into the starting lineup for the fourth game of the year. In starting the rest of the way at offensive guard, he wound up starting nine games, the most ever by a true offensive lineman at CU, and graded out as the third highest O-lineman on the team.
SAAC members selected several award winners, as Director of BuffVision Deric Swanson was recognized as the staff member of the year; he works closely with all 17 of CU's intercollegiate sports, coordinating their team highlight videos as well as playing an intricate role in making the CUSPY's a first-class video event. The Student Athlete Support Award was given to the Strength & Conditioning staff for their outstanding service to CU 300-plus student-athletes.
The Athlete's Choice Award, for the student who demonstrated outstanding spirit, enthusiasm and leadership while overcoming adversity, was awarded to sophomore football player Brian Iwuh. Within the span of a week last October, Iwuh lost both his father and an older brother to cancer back in Houston. He persevered both in the classroom and on the field, as he had 32 tackles in 10 games last fall. He has shined so far in spring practice as he is the starting "Buff" linebacker in CU's new 4-3 pro style defense.
Skier Erin McEachren won the Buffalo Award of Distinction, which is presented to a student-athlete for outstanding contributions to their team, their peers and the athletic department overall. McEachren, a senior, was heavily involved in community service, dedicated a lot of time and energy to SAAC, and delayed knee surgery so she could ski for the Buffs in the NCAA Championships and was rewarded with a career best finish, sixth, in the women's slalom. She also won the Leo Hill Award at CU's Academic Recognition luncheon last week.
The speed-strength and conditioning awards for the year were awarded to seniors Gabe Nyenhuis (football) and Randie Wirt (basketball). Special citations were given to Lynda Lockwood for nine years of service with Silver & Gold catering (CU's training table), and to Antoine McGee (men's basketball), who has been selected by the NCAA for its leadership conference in Orlando at the end of May. Volleyball player Maragda Santillana was selected as an alternate.
